Has anyone gotten married in Las Vegas or been to a wedding there??

FH and I are thinking of drastically changing our wedding plans. Instead of doing what everyone else wants us to do we'd like to follow our dreams. So far all we've booked is our DJ and our hall and we're willing to cancel. Our date right now is December 8, 2007 but we'd move it up to September 15, 2007. We'd be having an outdoor ceremony at the Valley of Fire. The pictures I have seen are AMAZING and we'd have the ceremony at sunset. The package includes a lot (see below) and the price is right. We'd also book a suite at the Bellagio for a week and we could have our bachelor/bachelorette parties the night before. Instead of an all out reception we'd just take everyone to dinner and drinks for three hours at the Prime Steakhouse in Bellagio, voted the #1 steakhouse in Las Vegas. We'd get an awesome Las Vegas wedding theme cake from Freed's (see below for link) and still have cute little Las Vegas themed wedding favors. It would also be a mini vacation and I love Vegas and have been there three times plus my aunt lives there so that helps with the planning. FH and I want to sell the house and buy a brand new one and we can't do that and spend $30,000 on a wedding too. This idea helps a lot because it will only run us around $10,000 plus it's for more then one night. The only thing is I've already ordered my wedding dress and it was formal and $1200....I'm looking in to seeing if I can cancel it and get my deposit back and find a more simple dress but if not I can still use it. What does everyone think of this?? I'm trying to find people who have gotten married in Vegas and can perhaps offer some insight or maybe recommend a place for a small intimate reception. We'd send out save the dates 6 months in advance with a letter to friends/family saying we'd love everyone to be there but if they cant make it we understand. Also I'd include phone numbers of all hotels in Vegas and airlines and sites like expedia with good deals. On the formal invite we would have an 8 week RSVP date. TIA ladies and sorry for the long post.

What the package includes:

FLOWERS - Bridal Bouquet: Cascade style with Red Roses in varying stages of open blooms, baby's breath & soft greenery Hand Tied with a White Ribbon along with Groom's Matching Boutonniere (we have various colors in Roses & offer Daisies as an option) Additional Flowers Can be Purchased for Family Members & Friends
Highest Quality Digital Photography & Video Available in the Industry (Nikon D2X, D200 Digital Camera & Panasonic DVX100B Video Camera) *All Photos are Different Poses
All Wedding Photos Taken are archived on CD for a Lifetime of Memories
You Get to Choose Which Photos are Printed
Your Wedding Photos are Published on the Internet for Family/Friends to View
Your Wedding Video is Published on the Internet for Family/Friends to View
20 - 4 x 6 Photos
5 - 5 x 7 Photos
5 - 8 x 10 Photos
30 Total photos to be printed
DVD Photo Slideshow
DVD of Wedding (Wide-Screen Format, Professionally Edited, Music Added)
You Receive a Copyright Release to All of Your Wedding Photos
Sit in the comfort of your home & share your Wedding Video, Photo Slideshow & Photos with your Family & Friends on Your TV All Photos are Touched up Prior to being Burned Your Wedding Info will be Printed on the Disc Streaming Broadcast of Your Wedding Ceremony Allows Your Family/Friends to View Your Wedding Online *FREE* NO PASSWORDS (6 months) All Items will be mailed to you as soon as we receive your Photo Selection to be Printed We will Take Posed & Candid Photos During Your Wedding Ceremony Las Vegas Weddings Archives Everything so if you ever loose your Photos or Video, We can mail you another Photo CD or DVD Includes a six passenger Chauffeur Driven Stretch Limousine for Your Luxury Ride Cold Refreshments Provided in Limousine Our Limousines Include Custom Leather Interior, Wet Bar, Built in Coolers, TV, VCR, PA System, Hi-Fi AM/FM-CD Player, fiber optic lighting, comfort controls & More Minister (Donation is Included) Larger Limousine Upgrade/Additional is available upon request Witness (if needed) Family and Friends are welcomed to take photos/video Valley of Fire Marriage Fees are Included **NO HIDDEN FEES** Valley of Fire Park Marriage Fees are included. Valley of Fire is a State Park with no Off-Road Traveling PERMITTED. All roads are paved and well Maintained for your guest and our Limousines

Picture of the cake I LOVE:

Mr. & Mrs. Las Vegas Cake

Pictures of Valley of Fire ceremonies:

Valley of Fire Past Weddings

The invites I LOVE:

Invites

This idea is perfect for us. We're not big dancers and FH is shy and hates being in the spotlight. Our 150 person guest list was scaring him LOL. I havn't enjoyed the planning much at all and I've just been frustrated and overwhelmed. I was doing this more for my mom and FH was doing this for me. I think this idea is fun and classy and not cheesy vegas elvis weddings....right??

I think it's awesome!! The pics in the Valley of Fire are BEAUTIFUL! If that's what you and your FH want then do it. Your wedding day is YOUR day and you have to do what's best for you, not what everyone else wants. They will just have to get over it unless they want to pay for your whole wedding. My FH and I recently decided that we are going to do a destination wedding. We just got soo frustrated trying to find a place and just couldn't justify spending $15-20,000 on one day. I think the cake and the invites are perfect!

If you don't mind sharing about how much is that wedding packsge? Just out of curiousity, FH and I haven't officially decided where yet.

We eloped to Vegas and had a ball. We were too stressed out with the family telling us a big wedding was just a waste of money and time for us because we already lived together and kids together. So one day after we booked the hall we went home anxious to talk to someone about it and started telling DH's mom who in the middle of DH describing the hall got up and walked out of the room and turned on the tv as if he wasnt talking at all, so we deceided right then and there we were going to Vegas and would have the big wedding later on. The NRC was very helpful and understanding and we are now getting married in June of 2008. We had our Vegas wedding at the Flamingo Hotel next to a waterfall just the two of us and then went over to the Venitian to take a gondola ride and have dinner. We went back to our hotel (treasure island)changed into our cheesy Just Married T-shirts and I kept my veil on and we went to see a show. I wouldnt trade it for anything and the best part is that most of our family doesnt know we did it and it's over a year ago now. The only person who knew was my mom because she had to watch the kids and my MIL found out from snooping with DH's brother and sister in law(she was upset we didnt tell her-but she made us feel like she wouldnt have had anything positive to say about it)and my mother insisted I tell my brothers and my sister. As far as the rest of the family No one knows and as far as they are concerned we are getting married in June of 08. So if your going to go you probably wont regret it! Good Luck and FM if you want any other info.

The pics alone are to die for! Absolutely gorgeous!!! I cant help you I have never been there but if its what you want go for it

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Posted by MrsQ-in2007

Honestly with all the research you've already done and the excited tone of your post, I think this sounds like the right thing for you! It isn't cheesy at all and you can have the type of wedding YOU both want and save money. I say go for it! I personally LOVE Vegas and will be going for my bachelorette party. Good luck!!!

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I agree. It does sound like this is the right thing for yourself & FH. Follow your heart.

Thanks ladies. Your posts have really helped me make up my mind. I'm so excited about this plan and I wasn't ever really excited about the wedding we were originally planning. I think I was doing more what my mom wanted and I feel bad for letting her down. All in all though it's out decision, we are paying for it and having to be stressed planning it. To me this option is much easier and more carefree and less nerveraking. Eventually she'll come around I hope and understand and want to take part in this wedding. I'm gonna call the DJ and RH tomorrow and make the cancellations. The date we had is a Saturday night two weeks before xmas and they only do one party a night so the odds of them re-booking are 90%. When we booked the date the Maitre'D said that the fire department has their annual xmas party that weekend every year and now they'd need to pick a new weekend. So I'm hoping we get the $1,000 deposit back in the end. FH also told me if we end up doing this then I can splurge on my wedding band....the one I want is over $5,000

I love Vegas and everything looks classy and beuatiful....I sometimes feel that we should have done that, but I am getting more excited about the big wedding as it approaches...you onthe other hand do not sound excited....if this idea excites and it will mean more to you do it....your true friends and family will make the trip there and as you know, will have an awesome time!

Do it! Let us know when you officially book it!